Javanese script is one of the traditional writing systems in Indonesia that is still known and used today. This script is classified as an abugida or syllabic script and is part of the Kawi script family (Maulana, 2020). Since ancient times, Javanese script has played an important role in documenting various knowledge, cultural values, and literary works recorded in Javanese manuscripts.

Technological developments and globalization have had a significant impact on patterns of communication within society. The increasingly dominant use of the Latin alphabet, particularly among the younger generation, has led to the Javanese script and other regional scripts being marginalized. The lack of use in everyday life has the potential to result in a decline in the ability to read and write Javanese script among future generations.

This situation calls for revitalization efforts that can adapt regional scripts to the changing times. This revitalization is an effort to introduce the script symbolically and encourage its active use today.

One form of Javanese script revitalization that is relevant to technological developments is through the provision of Javanese fonts. Fonts are digital representations of scripts that enable their use on various platforms, such as computers, devices, digital documents, and online media.

The existence of Javanese fonts facilitates the learning and teaching process, as the script can be written, read, and studied in a practical manner. In addition, Javanese fonts also open up opportunities for the use of script as an aesthetic element in graphic design and creative works. 

To date, various Javanese fonts are available and accessible through various media. However, in order for their use to be sustainable, both for writing and aesthetic purposes, the use of license-free Javanese fonts is a more appropriate choice.

License-free fonts allow for widespread use without legal barriers or licensing fees. This greatly supports the use of Javanese script by educational institutions, cultural communities, designers, and the general public. 

As a form of support for the preservation of Javanese script, in 2020 the Yogyakarta Special Region Cultural Office released a Javanese font developed by Apri Nugroho. There are two types of fonts introduced, namely nyk Ngayogyan and nyk Ngayogyan Jejeg. Both fonts can be downloaded via the following links:

• Fon nyk Ngayogyan

https://aksaradinusantara.com/fonta/nyk-ngayogyan.font

• Fon nyk Ngayogyan Jejeg

https://aksaradinusantara.com/fonta/nyk-ngayogyan-jejeg.font

In addition to providing fonts, the developers also provide installation guidelines, typing instructions, and keyboard layouts. These guidelines are intended to make it easier for users to install and use Javanese fonts correctly and consistently.

The use of Javanese script is also linked to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 and 17. In the context of SDG 4 on quality education, the existence of Javanese script supports the provision of inclusive, contextual, and locally-based teaching materials, thereby facilitating the learning process and improving students’ cultural literacy. Meanwhile, the achievement of these goals cannot be separated from SDG 17 on partnerships for the goals, because the development and utilization of Javanese phonetic script requires collaboration between the government, academics, technology developers, cultural communities, and the wider community.

Author : Haryo Untoro

Editor : Haryo Untoro

Bibliography

Maulana, R. (2020). Aksara-Aksara di Nusatara: Seri Ensiklopedia. Writing Tradition Project

Students of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, Class of 2025, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University, staged a drama titled Weton Waton on Tuesday (12/16/2025). The performance took place at the Poerbatjaraka Auditorium, FIB UGM, at 6:00 p.m.

This activity was organized as part of the final exam assignment for the Communicative Spoken Javanese Language course taught by Dr. R. Bima Slamet Raharja, S.S., M.A. The performance of Weton Waton was directed by Safa Rahmatul H. as the production manager.

The drama Weton Waton tells the story of a domestic conflict between a husband and wife triggered by financial problems. The root of the problem lies in the husband’s decision to quit his job and get involved in cockfighting gambling. The ongoing conflict then prompts the wife’s parents to take the matter to a shaman. In the story, the shaman says that the couple’s domestic quarrels are caused by an incompatibility in their weton, which is called tiba pegat.

Through this performance, students sought to convey the message that problems should not be automatically attributed to a person’s character or nature based on their weton. In addition, this performance also presented knowledge about the concepts of dina, pasaran, and wuku, which are still believed by some Javanese people to be part of their tradition.

Based on an online interview with Yogi Setiyawan on December 28, 2025, the Weton Waton performance was a final exam assignment that required all students enrolled in the course to be directly involved in the performance. The theme of weton was chosen as an effort to highlight the tradition of calculating weton, dina, pasaran, and wuku that has developed in Javanese society.

“In preparing for the Weton Waton performance, our preparations can be said to still have a number of limitations. The challenges faced include script writing, group division, and funding constraints. From this process, we learned that good and open communication between members is very important in a performance,” said Yogi.

Yogi also expressed his pride in being involved in the premiere performance of the 2025 batch of students from the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program. He hopes that this activity can be a first step towards producing better works in the future.

The performance of the Weton Waton drama was not only a means of practicing Javanese language skills orally, but also a platform for students to create and apply their language skills in the form of a performance. In line with the teachings of KGPAA Mangkunegara IV in Serat Wedhatama, which states that ngelmu iku kalakone kanthi laku or knowledge must be implemented through practice, this performance is a tangible manifestation of reviving enthusiasm for the Javanese language while honing students’ creativity. Through activities such as this, students are expected to continue to preserve and revive Javanese culture through concrete efforts that benefit the community.

[Javanese Literature and Culture Studies, Haryo Untoro]

Yogyakarta, January, 23, 2026 – Yogyakarta is widely recognized as one of the cities with a strong literacy ecosystem in Indonesia. The presence of bookstores spread across various parts of the city plays an important role in supporting public reading and learning activities. In recent years, bookstores in Yogyakarta have developed new concepts by incorporating coffee spaces and aesthetically designed interiors.

This concept has transformed bookstores from merely places for book distribution into alternative literacy spaces that are open to students and the general public. A number of bookstores that frequently attract attention on social media include Buku Akik, Solusi Buku, Ruang Literasi Yogyakarta, Buku Natan, Namu Buku, and Shira Media, among others. These bookstores offer reading areas, discussion spaces, and various literacy-related activities that are widely accessible.

The emergence of bookstores with creative concepts has further strengthened the culture of literacy in Yogyakarta. These spaces are used for reading, discussions, and the organization of literacy-based activities involving communities and students. With a comfortable and inclusive atmosphere, bookstores serve as non-formal learning spaces beyond the campus environment.

The growing phenomenon of aesthetic bookstores in Yogyakarta aligns with efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 4 on Quality Education, through the expansion of access to reading materials and inclusive learning spaces. In addition, the use of bookstores as creative public spaces supports SDG Goal 11 on Sustainable Cities and Communities by providing safe, welcoming, and sustainable cultural spaces in urban areas.

Through the presence of bookstores with diverse concepts, Yogyakarta continues to strengthen its role as a city of literacy that is adaptive to the times and responsive to the needs of the younger generation.

[FIB UGM Public Relations, Alma Syahwalani]

Yogyakarta, January, 9, 2026 – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada, held a thanksgiving ceremony to celebrate the successful completion of the international accreditation assessment by ACQUIN (Accreditation, Certification and Quality Assurance Institute). The event marked an important milestone for FIB UGM in its continuous efforts to enhance educational quality to a level recognized globally.

ACQUIN is an international accreditation agency based in Bayreuth, Germany. This accreditation evaluates the quality of higher education institutions based on European standards, covering aspects such as curriculum design, academic governance, human resources, and supporting learning facilities. By achieving ACQUIN accreditation, the accredited study programs are recognized as having met international higher education quality standards and as being on par with universities in Europe.

A total of 12 study programs at FIB UGM have officially obtained ACQUIN international accreditation, namely Cultural Anthropology, Archaeology, Japanese Language and Culture, Korean Language and Culture, Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture, Indonesian Language and Literature, Tourism, History, Arabic Literature, English Literature, as well as the Master’s Programs in Anthropology and History.

The Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Prof. Dr. Setiadi, M.Si., expressed his appreciation and gratitude to all members of the academic community who contributed to the international accreditation process. He emphasized that this achievement was the result of collective efforts involving lecturers, educational staff, students, and the support of university leadership.

The success of FIB UGM in attaining ACQUIN international accreditation is in line with the university’s commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG ****4: Quality Education, through the provision of inclusive, high-quality, and globally recognized higher education. In addition, this achievement also supports SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, by strengthening international cooperation and recognition in the fields of education and culture.

The thanksgiving ceremony concluded with a communal meal as an expression of gratitude and a means of strengthening solidarity among the academic community of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada.

[Public Relation of FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]

Yogyakarta, January 8, 2025 — The Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), facilitated the distribution of donations from Jogokariyan Mosque to 18 FIB UGM students from Sumatra who were affected by flooding. This assistance reflects the care and solidarity of various elements of society toward students directly impacted by natural disasters.

The event was attended by four representatives of the affected students from Sumatra, the Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Prof. Dr. Setiadi, M.Si., the Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Cooperation, and Alumni Affairs, Dr. Mimi Savitri, M.A., the Vice Dean for Finance, Assets, and Human Resources, Suray Agung Nugroho, S.S., M.A., Ph.D., Paksi Raras Alit as a representative of artists from the Jogja Hanyengkuyung Sumatra organizing committee, representatives of the Jogokariyan Mosque management, and volunteers.

Paksi Raras Alit explained that on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, the Jogja Hanyengkuyung Sumatra initiative was held as an expression of solidarity by musicians, event organizers, volunteers, and the Yogyakarta community to support those affected by flooding in Sumatra. He also noted that coordination had been carried out with Kagama and Kagama Care for the construction of sanitation facilities (MCK) in the affected areas, which has now begun. The fundraising effort was conducted in collaboration with Jogokariyan Mosque, which is widely recognized for its transparent and trustworthy fund management system, ensuring that the assistance would be distributed effectively and appropriately.

A representative of the volunteers stated that their presence at FIB UGM also served as an opportunity to strengthen ties and was expected to mark the beginning of further cooperation in social and humanitarian initiatives. Meanwhile, a representative of the Jogokariyan Mosque management explained that the mosque had been entrusted by the Jogja Hanyengkuyung Sumatra committee, along with recommendations from Kagama FIB, to distribute aid to FIB UGM students affected by the disaster in Sumatra.

The Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Prof. Dr. Setiadi, M.Si., emphasized that FIB UGM remains open to various forms of collaboration, particularly those related to community assistance and community service activities. He also reaffirmed his support for synergy among universities, communities, and society in addressing shared needs.

The financial assistance distributed by Jogokariyan Mosque amounted to IDR 3,000,000 per student. The aid is distributed every three months through the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM. The symbolic handover of the assistance during the final session of the event was represented by four affected students from Sumatra.

This donation distribution activity not only aims to alleviate the economic burden faced by students affected by the disaster but also seeks to ensure the continuity of their education while strengthening the spirit of mutual cooperation and cross-community partnerships. Through collaboration among educational institutions, religious communities, artists, volunteers, and alumni, this initiative also supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in mitigating post-disaster social impacts, ensuring inclusive access to education, and strengthening partnerships for sustainable development.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]